Liquid softener composition

ABSTRACT

A liquid softener composition comprising a polyhydric alcohol ester (A) represented by the following formula (I) and a cationized cellulose (B) having a nitrogen content determined by the Kjeldahl method of from 0.1 to 4% by weight, wherein the weight ratio of (B) to (A) ranges from 0.01 to 0.5 and the total content of (A) and (B) ranges from 1 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition: ##STR1## wherein: G represents a residue obtained by removing all of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups from a polyhydric alcohol; ##STR2##  groups each bind to G at the site of a removed alcoholic hydroxyl group, wherein A represents an alkylene group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, each alkylene group may be the same or different from one another, R represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having from 7 to 23 carbon atoms, each alkyl or alkenyl group may be the same or different from one another, and m and n are each a number of from 0 to 100; and 
     p, q, r and s represent each a number of 0 or above with the provisos that p+q+r+s represents the total number of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups in the starting polyhydric alcohol, and that neither p+q nor r+s equals 0.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a liquid softener composition forclothes which can impart an excellent softness and antistatic propertiesto various fibers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

During repeated wear and laundering, fiber-treatments are washed awayfrom clothes, or fibers become hardened due to the deterioration of thefibers per se, which results in undesirable changes in the texture ofthe fibers or fabric. In recent years, therefore, softeners capable ofimparting softness and antistatic properties to fibers have been widelyused for domestic purposes.

Most of the household softeners marketed today comprise a cationicsurfactant having 1 or 2 long-chain alkyl groups and a quaternaryammonium group per molecule (hereinafter referred to as a quaternaryammonium salt), in particular, a di(hardened beef tallowalkyl)dimethylammonium salt as the main component.

The softening effect of such a softener is exhibited by a decrease inthe coefficient of friction on the surface of the fiber due to thelubricating effect of lipophilic sites in molecules of the base, i.e.,the above-mentioned cationic surfactant, adsorbed on the surface of thefiber. However, it is unavoidable that a softener base having anexcellent softening effect gives a sticky feeling, i.e., a so-calledgreasy feeling, to the clothes to be treated therewith. The extent ofthis greasy feeling varies depending on, for example, the type of fibersto be treated with the softener and the knitting technique. Generally,underwear such as plain-knitted cotton underwear and nylon tricot slipwhich is brought into direct contact with the skin, and towels withwhich the hands directly come into contact and of which the texture canbe sensitively felt, are often evaluated as having a greasy feeling oran extremely oily feeling as a result of the softening treatment. Whensuch a softener is used at a high concentration, this greasy feelingbecomes more serious, though the softening effect is enhanced thereby.It has been therefore believed that the softening effect of theconventional softener compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium saltis correlated with this greasy feeling.

Under these circumstances, there have been proposed softenercompositions containing a quaternary ammonium salt together with variousadditives, for example, a softener composition containing an acyclicquaternary ammonium salt, a specific poly-quaternary ammonium salt and anonionic compound [see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,562 (patented on Nov. 21,1978; assignee: PROCTER AND GAMBLE CO) and 4,128,484 (patented on Dec.5, 1978; assignee: PROCTER AND GAMBLE CO)]; a softener compositioncontaining a quaternary ammonium salt, a cationic polyamide and a fattyacid glyceride [see GB Patent Publication-A No. 2,204,608 (published onNov. 16, 1988)]; and a softener composition containing a quaternaryammonium salt, a fatty acid (salt) and glyceride [see Japanese PatentPublication-A No. 63-295,764 (published on Dec. 2, 1988)]. However, thepresent inventors have found that the above-mentioned problem of greasyfeeling of the fibers or fabric resulting from using these softenercompositions cannot be fully solved so long as they contain a quaternaryammonium salt as the effective component, even though various additivesare employed therewith.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquidsoftener composition to be used in a rinsing bath of a washing tub whichcan effectively impart a softness to both natural and synthetic fiberswithout giving any greasy feeling to the fibers to be treated therewith.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under these circumstances, the present inventors have conductedextensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. As aresult, they have found that the above-mentioned object can be achievedby using a combination of special components, thus completing thepresent invention.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid softenercomposition, comprising:

(A) a polyhydric alcohol ester represented by the formula (I) ##STR3##wherein G represents a residue obtained by removing all of the alcoholichydroxyl groups from a polyhydric alcohol;

the [--OH], [--(OA)_(m) OH], ##STR4## groups each bind to G at the siteof a removed alcoholic hydroxyl group, wherein

A represents an alkylene group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, each alkylenegroup being the same or different from one another,

R represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 7 to 23carbon atoms, preferably a C₁₁, C₁₃, C₁₅ or C₁₇ alkyl group or a C₁₇alkenyl group, each alkyl or alkenyl group being the same or differentfrom one another, and

m and n are each a number of from 0 to 100, preferably from 0 to 20; and

p, q, r and s represent each a number of 0 or higher, with the provisosthat p+q+r+s represents the total number of the alcoholic hydroxylgroups in the starting polyhydric alcohol, and that neither p+q nor r+sequals 0; and

(B) a cationized cellulose having a nitrogen content of from 0.1 to 4%by weight, determined by the Kjeldahl method;

wherein the weight ratio of (B) to (A) ranges from 0.01 to 0.5 and thetotal content of (A) and (B) ranges from 1 to 30% by weight, based onthe total weight of the composition.

As is apparent from the above description, component (A) is composed ofG; [--OH] and/or (--(OA)_(m) OH]; and ##STR5## wherein G, A, R, m and nare each as defined above.

The component (A) may also be represented by the formula: ##STR6##wherein G, A, R, m, n, p, q, r and s are each as defined above.

The component (A) has preferably 2 to 10, and still more preferably 3 to6 alcoholic hydroxyl groups.

In other words, the present invention relates to a liquid softenercomposition which comprises the following components (A) and (B) at theweight ratio (B)/(A) of from 0.01 to 0.5 at the percentage of [(A)+(B)]of from 1 to 30% by weight:

[Component (A)]:

a polyhydric alcohol ester represented by the general formula (I):##STR7## wherein; G group: a residue obtained by removing all thealcoholic hydroxyl groups from the starting polyhydric alcohol;

[--OH] group, [--(OA)_(m) OH] group, ##STR8## group and

each a group binding to group G at the carbon atom to which the hydroxylgroups, which have been removed from the starting polyhydric alcohol,were bonded, wherein A groups may be the same or different and arealkylene groups having 2 to 3 carbon atoms, R group represents a linearor branched alkyl or alkenyl group having from 7 to 23 carbon atoms; andm and n are each a number of from 0 to 100;

p, q, r and s:

each a number of 0 or above and p+q+r+s represents the total number ofthe alcoholic hydroxyl groups in the starting polyhydric alcohol,provided that neither p+q nor r+s equals 0]; and

[Component (B)]:

a cationized cellulose having a nitrogen atom content determined by theKjeldahl method of from 0.1 to 4% by weight.

Further scope and applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is necessary that this polyhydric alcohol ester (I) of component (A)has at least one hydroxyl group. Such a polyhydric alcohol ester (I) canbe obtained by, for example, known synthetic methods (i) to (vi) as willbe described hereinbelow. The synthetic methods (i) to (vi) are effectedunder the production conditions in the prior art. ##STR9## wherein G, R,p, q, r and s are each as defined above; and r' and s' represent each anumber of 0 or above with the proviso that r' and s' satisfy therequirement: 0<(r'+s')<(p+q+r+s).

In synthetic method (i), a polyhydric alcohol is esterified with a fattyacid. The molar ratio of the polyhydric alcohol to the fatty acid may beselected in such a manner that at least one hydroxyl group remains inthe resulting polyhydric alcohol ester (I-1), i.e., p does not become 0.

Regarding the esterification conditions, an acidic catalyst such assulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and p-toluenesulfonic acid may be used,though the esterification may be effected without using any catalyst.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol to be used in this case includeglycerol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol and sorbitan. Thesepolyhydric alcohols may be used either alone or in the form of a mixtureof at least two of them.

Examples of the fatty acid to be used in this case include capric acid,lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid,isostearic acid, arachidic acid and behenic acid; and fatty acidsobtained from unhardened or hardened animal fats (for example, beeftallow and lard), palm oil, rapeseed oil and fish oil. These fatty acidsmay be used either alone or in the form of a mixture of at least two ofthem. ##STR10## wherein G, R, p, q, r, s, r' and s' are each as definedabove; R' represents a residue obtained by removing an alcoholichydroxyl group from a monohydric alcohol; R^(A) represents a residueobtained by removing all the alcoholic hydroxyl groups from a polyhydricalcohol; and t', w' and z' represent a number of 1 or above, a number of0 or above and a positive number, respectively, with the provisos thatz'+w' represents the total number of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups inthe starting polyhydric alcohol, and that t' and z' satisfy therequirement: 0<(t'×z')<(p+q+r+s).

In synthetic method (ii), a fatty acid ester is transesterified with apolyhydric alcohol. In synthetic method (ii), NaOH, KOH, NaOCH₃, KOCH₃or the like is used as a reaction catalyst.

Examples of the fatty acid ester to be used in synthetic method (ii)include esters of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol,glycerol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and sorbitanwith the fatty acids described above in the synthetic method (i).##STR11## wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester (I-1) represents apolyhydric alcohol ester obtained by the above synthetic methods (i) or(ii); and m and n are each as defined above.

In synthetic method (iii), an alkylene oxide having 2 or 3 carbon atomsis added to a polyhydric alcohol ester (I-1) obtained by the abovesynthetic methods (i) or (ii) to thereby give another polyhydric alcoholester (I-2). In this case, NaOH, KOH, NaOCH₃, KOCH₃, an alkali metalsalt of a fatty acid or the like is used as a reaction catalyst.

In this alkylene oxide addition reaction, the molar ratio of thealkylene oxide to the polyhydric alcohol ester (I-1) ranges from 1/1 to100/1, preferably from 1/1 to 50/1. ##STR12## wherein R, R' and R^(A)are each as defined above; the polyhydric alcohol ester (I-2) representsone obtained by the synthetic method (iii); r" and s" represent each anumber of 0 or above with the proviso that r" and s" satisfy therequirement: 0<(r'+s'+r"+s")<(p+q+r+s) or the requirement:0<(t'×z'+r"+s")<(p+q+r+s), wherein r', s', t', z', p, q, r and s areeach as defined above; and t", w" and z" represent a number of 1 orabove, a number of 0 or above and a positive number, respectively, withthe provisos that z"+w" represents the total number of the alcoholichydroxyl groups in the starting polyhydric alcohol, and that t" and z"satisfy the requirement: 0<(r'+s'+t"×z")<(p+q+r+s) or the requirement:0<(t'×z'+t"×z")< (p+q+r+s), wherein r', s', t', z', p, q, r and s areeach as defined above.

In synthetic method (iv), the polyhydric alcohol ester (I-2) obtained bythe synthetic method (iii) is reacted with a fatty acid or an esterthereof employed in synthetic methods (i) or (ii) under the sameconditions as those employed in synthetic methods (i) or (ii),respectively.

In the reaction mixtures obtained by these methods, unreacted polyhydricalcohol ester, fatty acid or fatty acid ester may be contained in somecases, in addition to the target polyhydric alcohol ester (I), i.e.,component (A). In the preparation of the liquid softener compositionaccording to the present invention, the reaction mixture containing alsounreacted polyhydric alcohol ester, fatty acid or fatty acid ester maybe used as such, so long as the effects of the present invention are notdeteriorated thereby. ##STR13## wherein G, R, R", R^(A), p, q, r, s, r',s', t', z', w', m and n are each as defined above.

In synthetic method (v), the molar ratio of the fatty acid ester to thepolyhydric alcohol may be selected in such a manner that the hydroxylgroup remains in the resulting polyhydric alcohol ester (I-2), i.e., p+qdoes not become 0. The molar ratio of the alkylene oxide to thepolyhydric alcohol ranges from 1/1 to 100/1, preferably from 5/1 to50/1.

The catalyst to be used in this synthetic method may be the same as theone employed in synthetic method (iii). ##STR14## wherein G, R, p, q, r,s, r', s', m and n are each as defined above.

In synthetic method (vi), an alkylene oxide is added to a polyhydricalcohol [according to the same reaction conditions as those employed inthe above method (iii)] to give an alkylene oxide adduct of thepolyhydric alcohol. The obtained product is then esterified with a fattyacid [according to the same reaction conditions as those employed in theabove method (i) ].

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol esters (I) obtained by the abovesynthetic methods (i) to (vi) and the like way include those shownbelow. These esters may be used either alone or in the form of a mixtureof at least two of them. ##STR15## wherein R and A are each as definedabove; and a, b, c, d, e and f represent each the number of moles of anadded alkylene oxide having 2 or 3 carbon atoms.

In the above formulas showing the polyhydric alcohol esters (I), thetotal number of moles of added alkylene oxide is usually from 0 to 200and preferably from 0 to 40.

In the present invention, a cationized cellulose is used as component(B). The cationized cellulose to be used in the present invention is awater-soluble polymer which contains a quaternary nitrogen atom, i.e., aquaternary ammonium part, and has anhydrous glucose as its constituentunit. Examples of the cationized cellulose include those represented bythe following formula (II):

    E[--OH].sub.x [--OY].sub.g [--OZ].sub.h                    (II)

wherein

E represents a residue obtained by removing all the alcoholic hydroxylgroups from the cellulose; the [--OH], [--OY] and [--OZ] groupsrepresent each a group binding to E at the site of the removed hydroxylgroup, wherein Y represents a group containing a quaternary nitrogenatom, and Z represents a substituent free from quaternary nitrogen atomsand having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in total; and

x, g and h are each a number of 0 or above with the provisos that x+g+hrepresents the total number of alcoholic hydroxyl groups in the startingcellulose and that g is selected so that the nitrogen content in thecationized cellulose molecule is from 0.1 to 4% by weight, determined bythe Kjeldahl method.

The cationized cellulose to be used in the present invention has acontent, determined by the Kjeldahl method, of nitrogen contained incationized cellulose molecule (hereinafter referred to simply as"nitrogen content") ranging from 0.1 to 4% by weight, preferably from0.5 to 3.5% by weight and still more preferably from 1 to 3% by weight.It is necessary to use a cationized cellulose having a nitrogen contentof within the above-described range in order to achieve the object ofthe present invention. When a cationized cellulose having a nitrogencontent outside of the range of from 0.1 to 4% by weight is used, theobtained liquid softener composition cannot achieve the desiredsoftening effect of the present invention.

The process for producing the cationized cellulose to be used in thepresent invention is not restricted. For example, it can be produced bythe processes described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,840 (assignee: UNIONCARBIDE CORP.), and Japanese Patent Publication-A Nos. 56-62,801(published on May 29, 1981) and 53-90,368 (published on Aug. 9, 1978).

Examples of Y in the above formula (II) include the following groups:##STR16## wherein X⁻ represents an anion such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃ ⁻, 1/2SO₄²⁻ and CH₃ SO₄ ⁻ ; and R is as defined above.

Examples of Z in the above formula (II) include the following groups:##STR17## wherein M represents an alkali metal such as Na, K and Li.

Preferable examples of the cationized cellulose as component (B) includethose represented by the formula (II) wherein E represents a residueobtained by removing all of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups from acellulose having a molecular weight of 200,000 to 300,000, Y represents##STR18## wherein X is as defined above, and z represents --CH₂ CH₂ OHand/or --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ OH.

Particular examples of the cationized cellulose represented by theformula (II) include JR-125, JR-400 and JR-30M (trademarks, manufacturedby Union Carbide Japan), Catinal HC-100, Catinal HC-200, Catinal LC-100and Catinal LC-200 (trademarks, manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry,Co., Ltd.), NK Polymer (RE) (a trademark, manufactured by Nitto ChemicalIndustry Co., Ltd.) and Jellner QL100 (a trademark, manufactured byDiacel Chemical Industries, Ltd.)

To achieve the object of the present invention, it is preferable to usea cationized cellulose of which 2 wt. % aqueous solution has a viscosityof from 20 to 5,000 cps, still more preferably from 75 to 2,000 cps inthe present invention, when measured with a Brookfield viscometer at 30°C. (use is made of rotors No. 2, 3 or 4 depending on the viscosity;revolution rate: 60 rpm).

The liquid softener composition of the present invention can be obtainedby dissolving or dispersing the essential components (A) and (B) inwater.

The weight ratio of component (B) to component (A) [component((B)/component (A)] in the liquid softener composition of the presentinvention ranges from 0.01 to 0.5, preferably from 0.1 to 0.4. When thisratio is outside the range of from 0.01 to 0.5, the resulting liquidsoftener composition cannot achieve the softening effect desired in thepresent invention.

In the liquid softener composition of the present invention, the totalcontent of the components (A) and (B) ranges from 1 to 30% by weight,preferably from 3 to 20% by weight. When the total content of thecomponents (A) and (B) in the composition is less than 1% by weight, toomuch softener composition would be required to be added in a singleloading deteriorating the handleability of the composition. When thistotal content exceeds 30% by weight, the viscosity of the softenercomposition is elevated, which causes difficulty in removing thesoftener composition from the bottle during use.

In addition to the components (A) and (B), the softener composition ofthe present invention may further contain a nonionic surfactant such asa polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether represented by the formula (III), apolyoxyalkylene N-alkyldiethanolamide represented by the formula (IV), apolyoxyalkylene N-alkyldiethanolamine represented by the formula (V),and mixtures thereof:

    R"O(AO).sub.i H                                            (III)

wherein R" represents an alkyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms; i is anumber of from 10 to 100; and A is as defined above, ##STR19## wherein Rand A are each as defined above; and j and k are each a number of 0 orhigher, provided that j+k is a number of from 0 to 98, and ##STR20##wherein R", A, j and k are each as defined above.

By using the nonionic surfactant together with the above-mentionedcomponents (A) and (B), the component (A) can be smoothly dispersed inthe preparation of the softener composition of the present invention.The amount of the nonionic surfactant ranges from 1 to 100% by weight,preferably from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the amount of thecomponent (A).

The liquid softener composition of the present invention may furthermorecontain a fragrance, a coloring, a silicone compound, an antibacterialagent, a solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol andpropylene glycol, and/or a water soluble salt such as sodium chloride,ammonium chloride, calcium chloride and aluminum chloride which havebeen commonly used in the softener compositions for clothes.

In order to further improve the dispersibility of the components (A)and/or (B) in water, the liquid softener composition of the presentinvention may also contain, for example, urea, an urea derivative(methylurea or ethylurea) or p-toluenesulfonic acid. The amount thereofmay be from 0 to 10% by weight based on the total weight of thecomposition according to the present invention.

Component (A), component (B), and other components may be blended in anarbitrary order in the preparation of the liquid softener composition ofthe present invention. In general, component (A) which is maintained ata temperature higher than the melting point or the softening pointthereof is poured into water or an aqueous solution of theabove-mentioned nonionic surfactant which is maintained at 50° to 80°C., while stirring. Then, an aqueous solution of component (B) is addedthereto, while stirring. After continuing the stirring, the resultingmixture is cooled. Thus, the liquid softener composition of the presentinvention can be prepared.

The softener composition of the present invention makes it possible toefficiently impart a softness to both natural and synthetic fiberswithout giving any greasy feeling to the fibers or to the fabric madetherefrom to be treated with the softener composition.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be described in more detail withreference to the following Examples which should not be considered tolimit the scope of the present invention.

Examples 1 to 24 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

By using the components (A) as specified in Table 1 and the components(B) as specified in Table 2, liquid softener compositions listed inTables 3 to 5 were obtained. Each composition was prepared by heatingwater or an aqueous solution which is obtained by dissolving thecomponent (nonionic surfactants, etc.) as specified in the column headed"Other component" in Tables 3 to 5 in water, pouring the component (A),maintained at a temperature higher than the melting point or thesoftening point thereof, into the water or the aqueous solution whichwas maintained at 50° to 80° C. while stirring, adding an aqueoussolution of the component (B) thereto while stirring, continuing thestirring of the resultant mixture, and then cooling.

The liquid softener compositions thus obtained were employed to treattowels and other fabrics. The towels and other fabrics treated wereevaluated in the following areas. Tables 3 to 5 also summarize theresults of this evaluation.

[Evaluation method of softness and greasy feeling]

Marketed cotton towels, cloths made of acrylic fibers and cloths made ofpolyester fibers were repeatedly washed with a marketed detergent"Attack" (a registered trademark, manufactured by Kao Corporation) 5times. Each liquid softener composition prepared above was diluted withwater (hard water of DH 3.5°) to prepare a 0.1% by weight (in terms ofthe active ingredient, i.e., the total content of components (A) and (B)in the aqueous solution is 0.1% by weight) of an aqueous solutionthereof. The washed and rinsed cotton towels, cloths made of acrylicfibers and cloths made of polyester fibers were immersed in each aqueoussolution of the liquid softener composition prepared above at 25° C. ata bath ratio of 1/30 for 1 minute under stirring, as a softeningtreatment. The treated cotton towels, cloths made of acrylic fibers andcloths made of polyester fibers were air-dried in a room, and then theywere allowed to stand in a thermohygrostat (20° C., 65% RH) for 24hours.

Then, the softness and greasy feeling of these towels and cloths wereevaluated.

The softness and greasy feeling were evaluated by the paired comparisontest with the use of, as a control, a towel and a cloth, respectively,which had been treated with an aqueous solution of di(hardened beeftallow)dimethylammonium chloride (5% by weight) (Comparative Example10).

The evaluation scores have the following meanings.

Softness:

+2: softer than the control,

+1: somewhat softer than the control,

0: as soft as the control,

-1: somewhat harder than the control, and

-2: harder than the control.

Greasy feeling:

+2: less greasy than the control,

+1: somewhat less greasy than the control,

0: as greasy as the control,

-1: somewhat greasier than the control, and

-2: greasier than the control.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Symbol    Component (A)                                                       ______________________________________                                        A-1       pentaerythritol mono-, di-, tristearate*.sup.1                      A-2       glycerol mono-, distearate*.sup.2                                   A-3       glycerol monostearate*.sup.3                                        A-4       sorbitan monostearate*.sup.4                                        A-5       ethylene oxide adduct of A-2*.sup.5 (average no.                              of moles of addition = 5)                                           A-6       ethylene oxide adduct of A-2*.sup.6 (average no.                              of moles of addition = 40)                                          A-7       ethylene oxide adduct of glycerol stearate                                    obtained by synthetic method (v)*.sup.7 (average                              no. of moles of addition = 20)                                      A-8       product obtained by further esterifying A-7                                   with stearic acid in equimolar amount with                                    glycerol used for obtaining A-7*.sup.8                              A-9       ethylene oxide adduct of glycerol stearate                                    obtained by synthetic method (vi)*.sup.9 (average                             mo. of moles of addition = 10)                                      ______________________________________                                         Note)                                                                         *.sup.1 : Composition by weight of fatty acid esters (%):                     (monoester)/(diester)/(triester)/(tetraester) = 30/40/25/5.                   *.sup.2 : Composition by weight of fatty acid esters (%):                     (monoester)/(diester)/(triester) = 60/35/5.                                   *.sup.3 : Composition by weight of fatty acid esters (%):                     (monoester)/(diester) = 97/3.                                                 *.sup.4 : Rheodol SPSLO (registered trademark, mfd. by Kao Corporation).      *.sup.5 : A product obtained by adding 1% by mol, based on the amount of      A2, of NaOH to A2 and effecting an ethylene oxide addition reaction at        150° C., 3 atm (gauge pressure) for 1 hour.                            *.sup.6 : A product obtained by the same procedure as that of *.sup.5,        except for effecting the ethylene oxide addition reaction for 6 hours.        *.sup.7 : A product obtained by feeding glycerol and glycerol tristearate     at a molar ratio of 1/1, adding 1% by mol, based on the amount of             glycerol, of NaOH and effecting an ethylene oxide addition reaction at        150° C., 3 atm (gauge pressure) for 5 hours.                           *.sup.8 : A product obtained by adding 1% by mol, based on the amount of      A7, of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 to A7, adding stearic acid in equimolar amount        with the starting glycerol and esterifying at 200° C. for 2 hours.     *.sup.9 : A product obtained by adding 1% by mol, based on the amount of      glycerol, of sodium stearate to glycerol, effecting an ethylene oxide         addition reaction at 150° C., 3 atm (gauge pressure) for 3 hours,      adding to the reaction product stearic acid in the equimolar amount with      the starting glycerol and 1% by mol, based on the starting glycerol, of       H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and esterifying at 200° C. for 3 hours.         

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________                              N content*.sup.1                                                                     Viscosity*.sup.2                             Symbol                                                                              Component (B)       (wt. %)                                                                              (Cps)                                        __________________________________________________________________________    B-1   JR-125 (trademark, mfd. by Union                                                                  2.0    100                                                Carbide, Japan)                                                         B-2   JR-400 (trademark, mfd. by Union                                                                  2.0    350                                                Carbide, Japan)                                                         B-3   JR-30M (trademark, mfd. by Union                                                                  2.0    1200                                               Carbide, Japan)                                                         B-4   Catinal HC-100 (trademark, mfd. by                                                                1.2    350                                                Toho Chemical Industry, Co., Ltd.)                                      B-5   Catinal HC-200 (trademark, mfd. by                                                                1.5    1200                                               Toho Chemical Industry, Co., Ltd.)                                      B-6   Catinal LC-100 (trademark, mfd. by                                                                0.8    550                                                Toho Chemical Industry, Co., Ltd.)                                      B-7   Catinal LC-200 (trademark, mfd. by                                                                1.0    1800                                               Toho Chemical Industry, Go., Ltd.)                                      B-8   NK Polymer (RE) (trademark, mfd. by                                                               1.8    300                                                Nitto Chemical Industry, Co., Ltd.)                                     B-9   Jellner QL100 (trademark, mfd. by                                                                 0.5    350                                                Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.)                                       B-10  Product obtained by cationizing                                               Hydroxyethylmethylcellulose SEW-04T                                           (trademark, mfd. by Shin-Etsu                                                 Chemical Co., Ltd.) with glycidyl-                                                                3.2    5000                                               trimethylammonium chloride by the                                             method*.sup.3 of Example 4 in Japanese                                        Patent Publication-A No. 5-70,501                                             (published on March 23, 1993)                                           B-11  HEC Daicel SP500 (trademark, mfd.                                             by Daicel Chemical Industries,                                                                    0      350                                                Ltd.)                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________     *.sup.1 : Determined by the Kjeldahl method.                                  *.sup.2 : Determined the viscosity of a 2 wt. % aqueous solution of           component (B) at 30° C. by using a Brookfield viscometer at a          revolution rate of the rotor of 60 rpm. Rotors No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 wer     employed respectively at the viscosities of the aqueous solution of           component (B) of less than 500 cps, 500 to 2,000 cps and 2,000 to 10,000      Cps.                                                                          *.sup.3 : This method is described in Japanese Patent PublicationA No.        570,501 as Example 4. Its description is as follows:                          200 g of hydroxyethylmethylcellulose SEW04T (trademark, mfd. by ShinEtsu      Chemical Co., Ltd., viscosity of 2% aqueous solution thereof at 20.degree     C.: 4,660cps, molar number of hydroxyethyl group as the substituent per       glucose unit: 0.36, molar number of methyl group as the substituent per       glucose unit: 1.40)                                                           was dispersed in 2,000 g of tbutanol, followed by the addition of an          aqueous causic soda solution, which had been prepared by adding 8.10 g        (0.2 mol per glucose unit of the starting cellulose ether) of causic soda     to 540 g of water at room temperature. Then, 159.3 g (1.0 mol per glucose     unit of the starting cellulose ether) of glycidyltrimethylammonium            chloride were added to the resultant mixture.                                 The obtained mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 5 hours, followed b     the addition of 12.8 g of 30% aqueous acetic acid solution to neutralize.     After cooling the reaction mixture (slurry) to room temperature, the          slurry was filtered. The filter cake thus obtained was washed with an         aceton/water mixture (90/10) four times, and then dried with a vacuum         desiceator to be a constant weight.                                           Thus, 281 g of a cationized hydroxyethylmethylcellulose was obtained. The     nitrogen content thereof, determined by the Kjeldahl method, was 3.24 %,      the molar number of the cationic group as the substituent per glucose uni     was 0.72, and the rate of effective utilization of the agent for              cationization was 72%.                                                   

                                      TABLE 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________           Component                                                                           Component               Greasy                                   Example No.                                                                          (A)   (B)   Other component                                                                            Softness                                                                           feeling                                  __________________________________________________________________________    1      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                    0   +2                                              (5)   (2.5) lauryl ether (1)                                           2      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                    0   +2                                              (5)   (0.05)                                                                              lauryl ether (1)                                           3      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (29)  (1)   lauryl ether (10)                                          4      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (0.9) (0.1) lauryl ether (0.1)                                         5      A-1   B-1   -            +1   +2                                              (0.9) (0.1)                                                            6      A-1   B-1   diethylene glycol lauryl                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   ether (1)                                                  7      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           8      A-2   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           9      A-3   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           10     A-4   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           11     A-5   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           12     A-6   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           13     A-7   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           14     A-8   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           __________________________________________________________________________     Note)                                                                         In each column of each component, figures in the parentheses refer to the     content (% by weight) based on the total amount of the composition of the     corresponding component (the same will apply hereinafter).                    Each composition contains water in addition to the components described i     the table in an amount of the balance to 100% (the same will apply            hereinafter).                                                            

                                      TABLE 4                                     __________________________________________________________________________           Component                                                                           Component               Greasy                                   Example No.                                                                          (A)   (B)   Other component                                                                            Softness                                                                           feeling                                  __________________________________________________________________________    15     A-9   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           16     A-1   B-2   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ettrer (1)                                          17     A-1   B-3   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (0.5) lauryl ether (1)                                           18     A-1   B-4   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           19     A-1   B-5   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (0.5) lauryl ether (1)                                           20     A-1   B-6   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           21     A-1   B-7   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (3)   (0.5) lauryl ether (1)                                           22     A-1   B-8   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +2   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           23     A-1   B-9   polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (5)   (1)   lauryl ether (1)                                           24     A-1   B-10  polyoxyethylene (20 mol)                                                                   +1   +2                                              (5)   (0.1) lauryl ether (1)                                           __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 5                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Comparative                                                                          Component                                                                           Component                Greasy                                  Example No.                                                                          (A)   (B)   Other component                                                                             Softness                                                                           feeling                                 __________________________________________________________________________    1      A-1   --    --            -2   +2                                             (1)                                                                    2      --    B-1   --            -2   +2                                                   (1)                                                              3      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20                                                                         -1   +2                                             (5)   (5)   mol)                                                                          lauryl ether (1)                                           4      A-1   B-1   polyoxyethylene (20                                                                         -2   +2                                             (5)   (0.005)                                                                             mol)                                                                          lauryl ether (1)                                           5      A-1   B-11  polyoxyethylene (20                                                                         -1   +2                                             (5)   (1)   mol)                                                                          lauryl ether (1)                                           6      A-1   --    di (hardened beef                                                                            0   +1                                             (5)         tallow) dimethylammonium                                                      chloride (1)                                               7      --    B-1   polyoxyethylene (20                                                                         -2   +1                                                   (1)   mol) stearyl ether (1)                                     8      --    B-1   glycerol (5)  -2   +1                                                   (1)                                                              9      A-1   --    N-tallow-diethanolamide                                                                     -1   +1                                             (5)         (1)                                                                           diethylene glycol                                                             lauryl ether (1)                                                              30% HCl (0.08)                                             10*    --    --    di (hardened beef                                                                            0    0                                                         tallow) dimethylammonium                                                      chloride (5)                                               __________________________________________________________________________     Note)                                                                         *: Comparative Example 10 was used as a control.                         

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A liquid softener composition, comprising:(A) a polyhydricalcohol ester represented by the formula (I) ##STR21## wherein Grepresents a residue obtained by removing all alcoholic hydroxyl groupsfrom a polyhydric alcohol; ##STR22## groups each bind to G at a removedalcoholic hydroxyl group, wherein A represents an alkylene group having2 or 3 carbon atoms, each alkylene group being the same or differentfrom one another, R represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenylgroup having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, each alkyl or alkenyl group being thesame or different from one another, and m and n are each a number offrom 0 to 100; and p, q, r and s each represent a number of 0 or higher,with the provisos that p+q+r+s represents the total number of thealcoholic hydroxyl groups in G and that neither p+q nor r+s equals 0;and (B) a cationized cellulose having a nitrogen content of from 0.1 to4% by weight as determined by the Kjeldahl method; wherein the weightratio of (B) to (A) ranges from 0.01 to 0.5 and the total content of (A)and (B) ranges from 1 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of thecomposition.
 2. The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1,wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester comprises at least one compoundselected from the group consisting of:(a-1) a pentaerythritol/fatty acidester having at least one hydroxyl group; (a-2) a C₂ or C₃ alkyleneoxide adduct of a pentaerythritol/fatty acid ester having at least onehydroxyl group; (b-1) a glycerol/fatty acid ester having at least onehydroxyl group; (b-2) a C₂ or C₃ alkylene oxide adduct of aglycerol/fatty acid ester having at least one hydroxyl group; (c-1) asorbitol/fatty acid ester having at least one hydroxyl group; and (c-2)a C₂ or C₃ alkylene oxide adduct of a sorbitol/fatty acid ester havingat least one hydroxyl group.
 3. The liquid softener composition asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester comprises apentaerythritol/fatty acid ester having at least one hydroxyl group. 4.The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepolyhydric alcohol ester comprises a C₂ or C₃ alkylene oxide adduct of apentaerythritol/fatty acid ester having at least one hydroxyl group. 5.The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepolyhydric alcohol ester comprises a glycerol/fatty acid ester having atleast one hydroxyl group.
 6. The liquid softener composition as claimedin claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester comprises a C₂ or C₃alkylene oxide adduct of a glycerol/fatty acid ester having at least onehydroxyl group.
 7. The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester comprises a sorbitol/fatty acidester having at least one hydroxyl group.
 8. The liquid softenercomposition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol estercomprises a C₂ or C₃ alkylene oxide adduct of a sorbitol/fatty acidester having at least one hydroxyl group.
 9. The liquid softenercomposition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol estercomprises one member selected from the group consisting of ##STR23## andmixtures thereof, wherein R and A are each as defined in claim 1; and a,b, c, d, e and f represent each the number of moles of added alkyleneoxide having 2 or 3 carbon atoms.
 10. The liquid softener composition asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester has 2 to 10alcoholic hydroxyl groups.
 11. The liquid softener composition asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester has 3 to 6alcoholic hydroxyl groups.
 12. The liquid softener composition asclaimed in claim 1, wherein:the cationized cellulose is represented bythe formula (II)

    E(--OH).sub.x (--OY).sub.g (--OZ).sub.h                    (II)

wherein E represents a cellulose residue obtained by removing allalcoholic hydroxyl groups from a starting cellulose; the (--OH), (--OY)and (--OZ) groups each represent a group binding to E at a removedhydroxyl group, wherein Y represents a group containing a quaternarynitrogen atom, and Z represents a C₁ -C₁₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₁₀ alkoxy alkyl,C₁ -C₁₀ polyoxalkylene alkyl all of which may be substituted with ahydroxyl or a carboxyl group and free from quaternary nitrogen atoms;and x, g and h are each a number of 0 or above with the provisos thatx+g+h represents the total number of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups inthe starting cellulose, and that g is selected so that the nitrogencontent of the cationized cellulose is from 0.1 to 4% by weight,determined by the Kjeldahl method.
 13. The liquid softener compositionas claimed in claim 1, wherein the cationized cellulose has a nitrogencontent of from 0.5 to 3.5% by weight, determined by the Kjeldahlmethod.
 14. The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1,wherein the cationized cellulose has a nitrogen content of from 1 to 3%by weight, determined by the Kjeldahl method.
 15. The liquid softenercomposition as claimed in claim 12, wherein Y is selected from the groupconsisting of: ##STR24## and mixtures thereof, wherein X⁻ represents ananion selected from the group consisting of Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃ ⁻, 1/2SO₄ ²⁻and CH₃ SO₄ ⁻ and wherein R is as defined in claim
 12. 16. The liquidsoftener composition as claimed in claim 12,wherein Z is selected fromthe group consisting of: ##STR25## and mixtures thereof, wherein Mrepresents an alkali metal.
 17. The liquid softener composition asclaimed in claim 12,wherein E represents a cellulose residue obtained byremoving all alcoholic hydroxyl groups from a cellulose having amolecular weight of 200,000 to 300,000, Y represents ##STR26## wherein Xis selected from the group consisting of Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃ ⁻, 1/2SO₄ ²⁻ andCH₃ SO₄ ⁻ and Z represents --CH₂ CH₂ OH, --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ OH or amixture of --CH₂ CH₂ OH and --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ OH.
 18. The liquidsoftener composition as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises 1 to100% by weight of a nonionic surfactant based on the amount of component(A).
 19. The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1, whichfurther comprises a fragrance a coloring, a silicone compound, anantibacterial agent, a solvent, a water soluble salt, or a combinationthereof.
 20. The liquid softener composition as claimed in claim 1,which further comprises up to 10% by weight urea, methylurea, ethylureaor P-toluenesulfonic acid based on the total weight of the composition.